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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ply, Plie, n. Also: plye; plyw; plea. [F. pli (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.) a fold or bend, a situation or condi tion, altered f. OF. ploi (12th c.), vbl. n. f. ployer, later plier Ply v. Cf. e.m.E. plie the middle joint of a limb (1575), a fold (1678), a tendency of character (1605). Cf. also Apply n. and the ultimately related Plait n. and Plite n.¹ and n.²]

1. A fold or pleat; a layer (of material). Also fig.a. Each of the layers produced by folding, or doubling over, cloth, as for ornament on a garment, also for convenience in handling bulk. b. One of a number of layers of material fixed one on top of another. c. fig.Freq., pl. without infl., espec. after cardinal numbers.A ply, a layer of (? folded) material, additional to and behind that used in making a garment, sometimes between it and the lining.Also, once, attrib. in plur.a., b. (1) c1420 Wynt. viii. 4879.
Willame off Spens percit … throw thre fawld off awbyrchowne And the actowne throw the thryd ply And the arow in the body 1513 Doug. x. viii. 110.
The scharp poynt … Persand … sa feill plyis of bull hydis Ib. xii. vi. 160.
The speir … Rent hys hawbrik of dowbill plyis maid 1538 Treas. Acc. VI. 395.
Quhite claith … to la betwix the plyis of the gounis 1538–9 Ib. VII. 151.
For … blak gray to stuff the plyis of hir goun witht 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 70 (M).
Ane cleinlie clouk … Off emot skynnis with mony kithis and plyis 1629 Conv. Burghs III. 283.
That it [sc. the plaiding] be presented onlie treinched or layed in plyes or faldis(b) a 1700 Bk. Dunvegan I. 193.
Lan pleas knott tagged [£1. 16 s.](2) c1420 Wynt. ix. 1576.
Wyth a swake thare off his swerd The sterap lethire and the bute Thre ply or foure abone the fute He straik the Lyndesay to the bane 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 204.
For … satin to be ane steikit doublat to the King … For lynyne claith tua ply to it 1513 Doug. viii. vii. 174.
A hug … scheild … In euery place sevin ply thai well and call 1676 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 219.
The said four wounds … bled my naptaines thorow four ply 1704 in Sinclair Satan's Inv. World Suppl. lxi.
They covered his face with 2 or 3 ply of thick cloath(3) 1532 Treas. Acc. VI. 77.
For lyning fustiane to be ane plie betwix the utir half and the lynyng of the … doublat; becaus it was ane armene doublat it had twa plyis 1616 Dunbar Social Life II. 74.
2 ell plading to be ane ply throwe the bodie & sleivs 16 s. c 1642 Tailor's Acc. Bk. B. 45.
Boikassay to be ane plye throwe the cloik neck 1642 Ib. 51.
To be ane plyw vnder the cloik neik iij s. 1682 Lauder Observes App. iv. 306.attrib. 1659 Bk. Dunvegan I. 187.
6 quarters of pleas velvet for a capc. 1598 Melvill Propine 33.
Ryping out all the hirnes and plyes of thy heart 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 284.
There are infinite plies in His love that the saints will never win to unfold 1691 Lauder Jrnl. 306.
Favours most be laid so many ply thick on upon another 1692 Presb. Eloq. (1694) 58.

d. One of a number of strands twisted together to form a single cord or thong. — 1591 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 428.
For ane quhayng of ledder … off … plyis thik to hing the tung of the bell

e. A fold, bend or twist in something other than cloth or skin. — a1650 Row in a1680 Blair Autob. 145.
It pleased the … Lord to twist in this small ply in Mr. Blair's rod

2. Condition, state, plight. = Plit(e n.In-to (in) ply, in good condition. Out of ply, in bad condition.(1) 14.. Acts I. 30/2.
He that it to was lent is haldyn to restore it in sic ply as he it borowyt 1463 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 26.
Because that the ferthing was brokin … and nocht in the ply he gaf it him 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4997.
The ane [bath] was cauld … The vther het … The baths twa stude in thair awin ply but dout(2) c1420 Wynt. v. 1714 (C).
Than ordanyt he That man to be howyn thar In qwhatkyn ply [W. plyte] that euir he ware 1456 Hay II. 134/26.
And traist wele that this gerris a man be in gude ply a1500 Henr. Fab. 313 (H).
Quhen hir sister in sic ply [Asl. plyte] hir fand … scho began to greit Id. Orph. 246 (Ch. & M.).
It is langour that puttis hir in sik ply(3) 1443 (1450) Reg. Great S. 86/2.
Wat … maide instance to ger that actione be delayit in the ply that it than was to the next hede courte [etc.] 1452 Aberd. B. Rec. MS. V. i. 163 (16 Oct.).
The actioun … is continewit in the samyn ply at it is in now one to the law day efter Ȝoull(4) 1456 Hay II. 134/27.
And the contrary puttis all out of ply as thus … mekle travaill and lytill resting c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 170.
Thy pure pynit thrott pelit and owt of ply Ib. lxi. 7.
Quhen I was ȝoung and into ply [etc.] — a1500 Henr. Fab. 2005 (Ch.).
Pultrie … As kiddis lambis or caponis in to ply 1488 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 56.
That na man … by ony stufe fishe or fleshe … fra Pashe to Mydsomer day that all beistis may be in ply 1513 Doug. Comm. i. v. 98.
And euery man knawis vennyson owt of ply tynys the sesson 1576 Orkney Oppress. 48.
Thai slew thair haill swyne quhen thai war out of ply